Orc Rose

A careful forester keeps an eye out for the Orc Rose. The presence of Orc Roses in an area often shows that Orcs have been, or are, in the area. This way they can avoid suprises.

Full Description
This flower looks like a miniature greenish brown rose, even though it is a flower rather than a bush. This small plant has small stinging nettles along its spine instead of thorns. (98% of people are allergic to the nettles to some degree). The leaves are small and jagged. The flower has little to no smell of its own, but since it only grows in decomposing middin (including offal piles, old latrines, decomposing animals or plant matter), few notice that fact.

Since Orcs tend to live in and around large amounts of middin, ofal, and blood pools, the flowers have become associated with them. (Orc tribes actually spread the spoors as they migrate) In fact, the presence of Orc Roses in an area often shows that Orcs have been, or are, in the area.

Additional Information:
Note other Goblinoids tend to have Orc Roses around them as well.

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If I picture the stereotypical medieval city, which does little to remove its filth, then Orc Roses can be easily found there, too, a few are likely close to any human settlement, near villages, roads, etc. Depending on the the hygienic customs, it may be even a sign of civilization.

But rigthly, the plant may be connected to racism ("Bah, where they live, Orc Roses grow.") so it is a useful plant to have in a game world.

If the pollen is not windborne, it propigate by brush. Thus the spread of the plant will follow what ever animal (or Orc) brushes up against it. There are a number of flowers that have pollen too heavy (or unappealing) to insects.

If the Orcs utilize the plant's allergic properties (since obviously they are not allergic to it) for poisons, or oh heck, as a herb in their cooking, they will be the primary vector for it.

So the bush may thrive in areas "visited" by the Orcs. The flower might serve as a reminder to the city people that they are "vunerable to Orc Attack" OR would be erradicated with vinegar and acid when ever it showed itself (as people attempt to wipe out the very memory of the Orc Attack).

This is mostly a "clue plant", rather than just description/ background.

It allows people who actually take skills to gain information about the area. (While anyone might know about Orc Roses and Orcs, the skill check will show if it is new growth or an "old patch" of renewed Orc Roses.

You can also use it to foreshadow Orc/ Goblin Presence in an area, or show where Orcs/ Goblins have been.

Link Backs

Nomadic Plants

A desolate region is almost entirely without normal vegetation. Local plants are able to unroot themselves and crawl along the ground in search of water and fertile soil. The inhabitants fence their crops in to keep them from wandering off and put heavy stone thresholds in the doorways of their huts to keep wayward plants out.

The plants sense by chemical cues, lacking sight or hearing, and tend to avoid herbivores or anything that smells of "dead plants". Characters with horses are likely to be unwelcome among the locals.